Capital, Expertise, Execution

WHAT WE DO

Branch Properties, LLC is a private real estate investment company focused on high-quality, well-positioned assets across all property types located in Atlanta and throughout the southeastern United States. For nearly 40 years, Branch and its affiliated companies have acquired, developed and managed approximately $2 billion of retail, multi-family, industrial and office properties, as well as unimproved land, accounting for more than 7.0 million square feet of leasable space.

Branch is a fully integrated real estate company, capable of investing, developing, leasing and managing complex real estate ventures both for itself and for third parties. Capital for these strategic investments comes from a variety of sources, including a well-established network of European individual investors and United States-based capital providers.

Company History

2009
2007
2005
2004
1999
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1973
Port / Logistics Venture Expanded
Branch and its partners are engaged by Lubert-Adler to develop a second 160-acre site in Charleston called Laurel Island for intermodal, distribution, warehouse and other logistics-related uses. Both the Macalloy and Laurel Island projects will help the Port of Charleston to regain its status as a premier port in the southeastern United States and will help stimulate economic activity in the Charleston area.
Branch Expands In-House
Development Expertise
Branch expands its in-house development and construction management expertise by hiring a diverse team of experienced professionals skilled in all facets of the development process.
Branch Enters Multifamily Sector
Long known for its expertise with retail properties, Branch enters the multifamily market by beginning a joint venture program with an Atlanta-based developer of multifamily, retail and mixed-use projects. Together, the team successfully develops over 1,700 units with aggregate construction costs of approximately $250 million in both Florida and Georgia.
First Regency Sale
After building an impressive retail portfolio, Branch Properties, L.P. is sold to Regency Centers Corporation, a leading national developer, owner and operator of grocery-anchored and community shopping centers, for approximately $240 million.
Japanese Investment Fund Raised
Branch expands its network of international investors to include Japan by raising $30 million from two Japanese investors to form Branch / Interallianz Realty Fund, Ltd. With this equity, Branch makes approximately ten investments in retail, multifamily and strategically-located land in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.
Strategic Focus Shift
Branch makes the strategic decision to focus almost exclusively on retail shopping centers. Management considers such investments to be the best investment vehicle to generate both immediate operating cash flow and long-term capital appreciation.
Alliance with Matuschka and Partner
Branch expands its European network of investors by forming a strategic alliance with Matuschka and Partner, a German investment advisory company now known as Minerva Real Estate Investments. During the next 15 years, Branch works with Matuschka to provide its European clients will real estate investment opportunities in the growing southeastern United States.
Company Founded
Branch and Associates is founded in Atlanta, Georgia by J. Alexander Branch III primarily as a service organization to provide real estate acquisition, development, management, leasing, and advisory services to high-net-worth foreign investors. Functioning as a purchasing principal, Branch raises the capital necessary for each transaction on a deal-by-deal basis. Initially, Branch's investment focus is on unimproved land and timber properties.
Port / Logistics Joint Venture
Branch joins forces with Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds, a Philadelphia-based real estate investment firm, and other partners to acquire the former Macalloy plant site in North Charleston, South Carolina. On the 110-acre tract, the partners intend to develop state-of-the-art intermodal, warehouse and distribution facilities to serve the planned Navy Base Container Terminal. Once complete, this project will help the Port of Charleston to capitalize on increased container ship traffic generated by the 2014 widening of the Panama Canal.
Second Regency Sale
After rebuilding its retail portfolio, Branch sells 22 of its retail shopping centers containing over 2.5 million square feet to Regency Centers Corporation for approximately $400 million.
Branch Capital Partners, L.P. Formed
Subsequent to the Regency sale, management of Branch joins forces with key European individual investors to form Branch Capital Partners, L.P. to continue the company’s successful acquisition strategy. The primary investment focus of Branch Capital Partners is grocery-anchored shopping centers in the southeastern United States. Branch forms a wholly-owned subsidiary called Branch Properties, LLC to manage the day-to-day operations of the company.
Branch Properties, L.P. Formed
Management of Branch and Associates completes a “mini roll up” of some of its key shopping centers and raises approximately $148 million in cash and contributed properties to capitalize a new venture - Branch Properties, L.P. Of this amount, $40 million in cash is invested by ABKB/LaSalle and the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund. Branch and Associates contributes its operating company and other assets to this new organization.
Branch Expands into Development
Branch expands its service offerings to include development, re-development and renovation capabilities. With these skill sets, Branch develops a number of retail centers anchored by Publix Super Markets, Inc., the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Branch targets the Atlanta metropolitan and South Carolina markets.
Branch Offers Property
Management Services
Having initially contracted out the property management function to third-party companies, Branch expands its services to include property management, leasing and accounting.
Expansion into Improved Properties
Branch partners with Noro Realty Advisors, a Dutch investment advisory firm, to acquire its first improved property, a fully-leased office building in what was then Atlanta’s premiere office park. Working on behalf of Noro, Branch also enters the shopping center business by purchasing Dunwoody Village, a neighborhood shopping center in Atlanta, Georgia. During the next several years, Branch continues to acquire shopping centers, office buildings and unimproved land throughout the Southeast using equity supplied by Noro.